The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1887-09-07
The Art of Borrowing.

"Hello What are you doing for liv-
ing" was the somewhat contemptuous
question put by reporter of the San Fran
cisco E.ranlinel' in the corridor OF the Bald
win Hotel to a well-dressed but nevertheless
indescribably see1y-looking man who had
hazarded the remark that it was fine day.
II have been doing very well since saw
you last. | have given up work OF every
kind, for am really not strong enough for
employment; and, besides, don't like it. l
am earning a good and respectable liveli-
hood by borrowing now" replied the young
man address ed quite calmly.
"By borrowing" exclaimed the reporter.
81 should never fancy you could live very
luxuriously on an income drawn from that
source. You occasionally pay back the
money you receive, ] suppose"
Il always pay back the money get the
first time Of asking" replied the young
man. 1.-THE second time forget to return
it, When | begun to negotiate these little
necessary loans, | proposed to cancel my
debts twice, and allow the creditor to make
permanent investment at the third ven
ture; but | soon found that many men OBJ
ject nearly as strong to lending money when
they are sure they will get it back, as when
they know they are certain to lose it, and,
on half a dozen occasions, they refused to
accommodate me when | approached them
the third time, although they must have
seen that was strictly honest, as | had paid
them back the money they had lent me
twice already
81 could not afford to be victimized this
way too often, you know, SO determined
to close the account when | had obtained
the second loan. ] should make very little
money if [ did it sooner, because no man
cares to lend much to comparative
stranger when he first wants to borrow
money from him. ! always make my
initial demand a moderate one, never ask
ing for more than 81. | don't draw my
friend into q retired corner and nervously
whisper my request in his ear If / did
that he would almost certainly refuse me.
81 take him when he is with his friends
and manage, if can, to get him to intro
duce me to some of them. Thus he becomes
sort of sponsor for my responsibility.
Then l suddenly call ont, as though the
thought had just occurred to me, oh, by
the way, X, like good fellow, let me have
a couple of dollars until tomorrow after
noon. Or, hold on, 81 will do. | want to
pay little bill as 60 home, and / seem to
have made ducks and brakes of my small
change today
Everybody in the room hears me: and if
X. refuses to lend me the money he is, NOR
ally, holder man than | usually find him
to be. Punctually at the appointed hour /
call upon him the next day and return his
dollar, apologlZlng Tor having troubled him.
| ask him to take drink, if he is inclined
that way. Such upright behavior, has, of
course, a good effect on him, and when, a
little later, under very similar surroundings,
and laying my plans of attack in the same
way, | strike him for So, seldom fail to
get it and keep it.
Zone rule l scrupulously observe. [ never
ask a man for money until by some means
or other | have ascertained that he has it.
The more there is in his purse the better are
my chances of success. 1t is easier to Dor
row IS from man who has $50 than half
dollar from a man who has only 81. Also,
men who are not accustomed to having
large sums of money will lend much more
freely when they happen to be flush than
those whose pockets are always well lined.
II never ask for larger sum than IS.
| don't think it would be honorable to do so
and, besides, might not.get it.
mo, never exhaust my list of friends.
On the contrary, l am always Increasing it.
Before | cut loose from one man by the IS
transfer, get him TO introduce me to at
least two Others, and as losses such as have
been speaking of are not usually referred to
in good society the field is generally clear for
new operations.
"Now. will you join in something at the
bar! Mo- | am sorry for that. | did not
intend to say had forgotten my purse and
ask you to pay for the drinks; and | was
hoping that You would introduce me to some
of your friends in the hotel"